Control and safety system for strand working apparatus



July 14, 1936. -E w; LARSEN 2,047,374

CONTROL AND SAFETY SYSTEM FOR STRAND WORKING APPARATUS @MW/Ivry2,047,374 CONTROL AND SAFETY SYSTEM FOR STRAND WORKING APPARATUS `uly14, 1936. E. w.y LARsEN Filed May 16, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July14,1936Ew@ LARsi-:N 2,047,374

CONTROL AND SAFETY SYSTEM FOR STRAND WORKING APPARATUS 'y Filed May 16,1930 4 sheets-sheet 5 July 14, 193e. E, W. ARSEN 2,047,374

CONTROL AND SAFETY SYSTEM FOR STRAND WORKING APPARATUS Filed May 1s,195o 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED 'STATES PATENToFFlcE CONTROL AND SAFETY SYSTEM FOR STRAND WORKING APPARATUS Einer W.Larsen, Chicago, lll., asslgnor to Western Electric4 Company,

Incorporated, New York,

This invention relates to a control and safety system for strand workingapparatus. particularly for use with wiredrawing machines.-

The principal object of the invention is to coordinate a. strandslackener of a strand working apparatus with the take-up means andincidentally to provide an interlocking system for positivelysafeguarding and controlling theA operating parts of a strand workingapparatus.

In accordance with this and other objects, one embodiment of theinvention contemplates the provision of an automatic device for'-slackingthe wire in a wire drawing machine at the moment the' take-upreel stops rotating, (the capstan driving power not being shut off-before this moment). a' system which is incidentally electricallyinterlocked so that the take-up mechanism can be operated only when thedoors to the supply, Wire drawing capstan and take-up compartments .areclosed and the reel is'locked on its arbor.V

Automatic devices are also provided for positively stopping the wiredrawing and take-up units after the reel is full, the wire breaks, theend of the wire pulls through the machine, the reel becomes loose on itsarbor or if the doors to the supply compartment are opened. -Remotecontrol switches are provided to electrically control mechanical andpneumatically operated devices for eiecting the actuation of the doorsto the wire drawing capstan and take-up compartments, the motorcontrols, and to control valves for the wire drawing lubricatingcompound, pneumatic brake, the wire slacking mechanism and .a bafflemechanism.

The features and advantages of the invention will be better understoodfrom the following detailed description and one embodiment thereof takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein f Fig. l is afront elevational viewof a high speed wire,d rawing` machineYconstituting an embodiment of the invention, and showing thearrangement' of the compartment;

the slacking mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View t'aken substantially along the line 2-,-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional View of the takeup compartment doorconstruction;

Fig.4 is anv enlarged front elevational view of Fig. 5 is a sectionalview 5,--5 of Fig. 4, and I Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram showing theautomatic electrical` controlling `means in connection with `a schematicillustration of the various operating parts effected by a closing of thecircuits.

taken along the line upon the under surface thereof and a pair of`Vtruncated cone shaped posts 2l mounted upon the upper surface thereof.Suspended from a roof of the supply compartment are brackets 22 arrangedto support idler pulleys 23 for receiving the rod stock I2 from theposts'ZI. The supply compartment I I is provided with an open end 24having a door 25 which may be of any'desired construction preferably ofa roll type as shown in Fig. l.

The drawing compartment I3 contains a housing 26 (Fig. 2) which hasreduced portions-21 and 28 at the top and bottom thereof designed toco73 operate with the top and bottom Awalls of .the compartment toforin` door receiving chambers 3| and 32. stepped capstans 33 and 34 arerotatably mounted upon'the front wall 35 \o f the housing 26, thecapstan 33` receiving the rodv stock I2 after passing from the pulley 23and through a die in a die'block. A plurality of tioned above thecapstan 33, while a plurality of idler sheaves 39 are rotatably mountedupon an eccentric shaft 42 and positioned above a capstan 34. The rodstock I2 is wound around the capstan 33 and the idler sheaves 3'Iasshown in Fig. 2- and as the material o r rod stock passes from the idlersheaves'31 it is drawn through dies in a die block 435 After the wirehas been drawn through the dies in thedie block 43,it passes` around thelast and largest circular grooved step of the capstan 33 The wire I5passing from the idler pulley 44 vidler sheaves 31 are rotatably mountedupon an eccentric shaft 38 (Figs. 2 and 4), and are posi-V and over anidler pulley 44.

passes over the innermost idler sheave 39 and is then wound around thecapstan 34 and the other idler sheaves 39 in the same manner as the wireis wound around thel capstan shown) arranged to refor supporting dies(not ceive the wie I5as each convolution thereof passes from the idlerpulleys 34. The wire I5, after being through-the 39 the. Carsten 331 andthe une; sheaves 3l (Fig. 2); A die block 45 is disposed between theidler sheaves 39 and the capstan- 34 52 so that they extend outwardlyand upwardly.

The inner ends ofthe shafts 38 and 42 have gears 53 rigidly mountedthereupon and in mesh with piston-actuated rack members 54, the innerreduced portions 55 thereof extending through packing units 55 in endwalls oi' a cylinder 51 and ilxed to a piston 58 in the cylinder. Fluidor airlines 58 and 58 communicate with each end of the cylinder 51 for apurpose hereinafter described. v

The wire drawing compartment has an aperture 52 which is arranged to beclosed by swinging doors 83 and 84, having supporting arms 65 and 58keyed to pivot shafts 51 and 58, respectively. The shafts 51 and 58 arerotatably mounted in the walls of the housing 26 or in any suitablesupport, and have gears 18 and 1| mounted thereupon and in mesh withrack portions 12 and 13, respectively, of an actuating yoke 14. The yoke14 is slidably mounted upon a horizontal beamy and has a toothed Vportion 15, the teeth of which mesh with a gear 11 keyed to a stub shaft18. 'Ihe stub shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in any suitable bearing (notshown) and has a lever 18 mounted upon one end thereof, the' outer endof which is pivotally secured to a connecting or piston rod -88. Thepiston rod 88 extends through an aperture in a cover 8| ofa cylinder 32,and is fixed to a piston 83 which is movably disposed in the cylinder. Apivotal mounting indicated at 84 is provided for the cylinder so as toallow for a swinging movement due to thelever connection.

Vlecuredtoa 'The take-up compartment I8 containing, as has already beendescribed,r the idler pulleys 48 and 41, the take-up reel 48 and `theshaft 49, has a door 85 to close an aperture 85 thereof. The generalconstruction of this door 85 is shownin Pig. 3 wherein avplurality ofhorizontally disposed door sections 81 have their ends iixed to lengths88 of chains which ride over idler sprockets 88 and driven sprockets 92,and have their inner ends secured to'brackets 93,1ixed to the rear wallof the take-up compartment. Counterweights 34 are connected to'thebrackets 53 by means of pivotal links 35 and tothe chains by meamV oflinks 88 and clamping membersZ 31. The driven sprockets 82 are rigidlymounted upon the ends of a shaft 88 which has iixedly moimted thereupona relatively small gear. 88 in mesh with a relatively large gear 18|which is xedly mounted upon a stub shaft |82. A pinion |88 is flxedlymounted upon thestub shaft |82 and is in mesh with a rack portion |04 ofa piston rod |85, the opposite end of which is piston |88 slidablydisposed in a cylinder |81. Y

The operation of the apparatus is controlled bvy the nt of circuitsshown in Fig. 6 which are so related that the device will `be auto--maticaliy controlled and will not operate until the apparatus is inreadiness and the doors of the various compartments are closed. The door25 to the supply compartment vmay be closed manually, or by any suitablemeans, and in so doing- .switches |88 are closed. By closing -an airline. |25 to a cylinder |25 so as to force switches |88 and ||l amagnetic switch ||2, the holding coil of which is in series with a timeswitch ||3, is closed, thus energizing a solenoid ||4 for actuatingvalves ||5, IIS, and ||1. By opening the valve ||5, air under pressureis allowed to pw from the supply pipe 8 through the valve ||5, anairline ||3 to the cylinder |01, thus moving the piston |85 downwardly(Fig. 6). and actuating the rack |84, the pinion |03, the gears |ll| and33, rotating the shaft 98 and in turn moving the chains by theirengagement with the sprockets 32 so as to move the door 85 into closedposition. Y

' .The air in the cylinder |81, beneath the piston |08 is exhaustedthrough an air line |28, the valve ||5 and an exhaust port' |2|. Byactuating the valve ||1 the air under pressure from the supply line ||8is allowed to pass through the air line |23 and into the cylinder 82(Figs. 2 and 6) thus moving the piston 83 downwardly, and actuating thelever 13 so as to move the actuating yoke 14 outwardly and cause thedoors 63 and 54 to be moved into closed position ladjacent the aperture52. Flap valves |85 and4 |85 are disposed in the air lines |23 and |25respectively, and have relatively small apertures therein to rallow aslow passage of air into the cylinders 82 and |25, rpectively, thuscausing a slow vclosing of the doors 53 and 54 and a slow movement .o'fthe valve |28 and the valve |35. The air 30 from beneath the'piston 83is exhausted through an air line |24 through-.the valve ||1 an exhaustport III. The actuation of the valve ||1 also allows Aair under pressureto pass through a piston |21 downwardly with a valve rod |28 which iscarried thereby so as to move a valve |28 intoengagement with a valveseat |30 of a.` compound drain aperture. The valve rod |28 is providedwith a toothed portion |33 in mesh with a gear |34 of a compolmd supplyvalve |35, thus moving the valve into open pomtion so as A to allowcompound for the dies to pass from a supply pipe |35 through the valve|35 and through a supply Pipe |31 to thedies in the die blocks 43 and45.Y Although only one unit is shown for closing the compound drain andopen- .ing the valve for admitting compound to the dies, any-number ofunits may be employed depending upon the number of die blocks in theapparatus." The air in the cylinder |25 beneath thepiston|21isexhaustedthroughanairline |38, the ai'r line |24, the valve ||1 andthe exhaust port |25.

The wire I5 -in passing over the control idler pulley 41 (Figs. 1 and 6)moves a lever |48 about its pivot|4| and the tension of a spring |42 soas to close the switch |43 and allow a valve |44 to be closed by aspring |45. 'Iherefore, by the actuation of the valve ||54 the air coline |48 is in communication with the air supply line ||8throughthevalve ||5soasto direct air under pressure past the valve |44and through an air line |41 to a cylinder v|48 to actuate a piston |48and in turn actuatea baille nechanism c5 |52 when th'e valve |44 isopendue to the break-l ingofthewire|5ortheremovalofthewirefrom the controlidler pulley 44 when the entire sup-- ply of wire is drawn therefrom.The baille mechanism consists of a roller supporting member |53which ispivotallymolmted at |54 and normally held out oi' engagement with thewire wound upon the take-up reel 48 by aspring |55,

but arranged to be actuated by the actuation of the piston |48 so as tomoveV rollers |55, carried 55 move the 'valve ||5 to permit air underpressure' thereby, into engagement with the wire on the take-up reel soas to prevent the vnre thereupon 4from loosening. i

l After the door 86 to the take-up compartment has been closed, aopening |51 therein will be moved into general `alignment with atelltale switch |58 so that the operator may reach through the openingand closethe switch. The telltale switch |58 may be operated by anycounter commonly used for controlling electrical contacts. but thepreferred type of counter is disclosed in Larsen Patent No. 1,904,869,April 18, 1933. By closing the switch |58, a switch |60 is closed due tothe energizing of a solenoid |8I, starting the take-up motor |62. Theswitch |60 simultaneously energizes a solenoid |63 so as to actuate thevalve |64 to permit air under pressure to pass from the supply line ||8through the valve |64, the air line 60 and into the cylinder 51, thusmoving thepiston 58 from the position shown in Fig. 6 toward theposition shown in Fig. 4, thus actuating, the eccentric shafts 42through the rack and gear l'connection so as to move the idler sheaves31 and 39 upwardly from their respective capstans 33 and 34. Theactuation of the valve |64 also allows air under pressure to pass from acylinder |65of atake-up brake, indicated generally at |66, so as toallow the tensionl of springs |68 to move the fixed brake'member |10from engagement with a rotatable brake member |1| of the shaft 4 9(Figs. land 6).

' The starting of the take-up motor |62 also energizes .the time switch||3 which is kept closed for' a set interval to keep the switch yI l2closed until after a pressure controlled switch |13 has closed. Theclosing of the pressure controlled switch |13 iseifected', shortly afterthe take-up motor is started, by means vof an oil pump |14 which isactuated by the motor |62 and operatli'v'aely connected to the pressurecontrolled switch When the take-up spool or reel 48 becomes full, thetelltale mechanism automatically breaks the circuit to the take-up motor|62 and de-energlzes the solenoid |63, thus allowing the valve |64 to bemoved into the opposite position by a weight |15. The take-up brakemechanism |66 is actu-` ated immediately upon the movement of the valve|64 by the weight 115, due to the air under pressure passing fromthesupply line ||8 through the valve, air lines |16 and |11, to thecylinder |65. When the motor |62 comes to rest, the pressure controlledswitch |.13 opens, thereby de-energizing the solenoid ||4 allowing aweight |80 to to pass from the supply line ||8, through a flap valve |8|and through the air line 59 to the cylthe pressure controlled switchbroken, and the' slacking mechanism actuategll W An actuating rodl183,/'wl chl-ssuppprts the weight |60 and: is actuated by the solenoid||4 has lugsv |84 adapted to actuate the valves ||6 and ||1 upon theupward movement thereof, but is'moved free ofthe va1ves||6 and ||1 down-'wardlyf l v about their pivots into open positions. A simul- 10 taneousactuation of the piston |21, with the actuation of the piston 83, isbrought about by the air under pressure entering the cylinder |26through the air line |38, thus closing the valve |35 so as to shut or'l'the supply of compound to the dies and to move the valve |29 away fromthe drain |30.' The take-up compartment door 85 is opened by firstclosing the switch |90 so as to energize the solenoid |9| and vmove the'valve ||64 to allow air under pressure to pass from the air 20 supplyline ||8 therethrough, through an-air line |20 into the cylinder |01,thus moving the piston |06 upwardly, causing an actuation of the gearsand sprockets which are operatively connected to the rack |04 to movethe door 85 into 25 open position while aided by the c ounterweight 94.The door 25 to the supply compartment may be opened in a similar mannerif a slmilarfmeans is employed therefor, or it may be opened manually bythe aid of a handle |92.

What is claimed is:

l. In a strand working apparatus, means for advancing a strand, meansfor'taking up lthe strand as advanced, means for tightening the strandwhile advancing, means for stopping said 35 take-up means, and meansresponsive to the stopping of saidtake-up means for rendering saidtightening means ineffective. l

2. In a strand working apparatus, a capstan for receiving and advancingconvolutions of strand material, a sheave for receiving the convolutionsof material from said capstan,means for varying the relative positionsof saidncapstan and said sheave for changing the tension of the strandmaterial while advancing, atakeup means for receiving the strand fromsaid sheave, means for stopping said take-up means, and means responsiveto said stopping means for operating said varying means to relieve thetension. .h

3. In a strand working apparatus, means for working a strand, means foradvancingthe strand through said working means, means for stopping theactuation of said advancing means, means for varying the tensionof Asaidstrand, means for actuating said varying means for tightening thetension of the strand while advancing, and means rendered effectiveresponsive to the. stopping. of said advancing means for actuating saidvarying means for relieving the tension lof the strand.

4. In a wire drawing. machine, a compartment containing supply means, acompartment containing dies and a capstan for` drawing wire through saiddies, a compartment containing a take-up mechanism for the drawn wire,doors for each of said compartments, electric power means for operatingsaid take-up mechanism, a circuit for supplying current to said powermeans, means for opening and .closing said circuit, said last mentionedmeans being'so arranged that said 7 0 circuit cannot be completelyclosed until all of said doors yare closed, means responsive to abreakage of said wire and to said wire becoming loose for stopping saidpowermeans, means responsive to the opening^ of one of said doors fortake-up mechanism for the drawn wire, doors for each of saidcompartments, electric power means for operating said take-up mechanism,a circuit for supplying current to said power means, means for openingand closing said circuit, said last mentioned means being so arrangedthat said circuit cannot be completely closed until all of said doorsare closed, means responsive to a breakage of said wire and to said wirebecoming loose for stopping said power means, means responsive to theopeningot one of said doors for stopping said power means, and means toprevent opening of the other two doors while said takeup means isoperating.V

6. In a wire drawing machine, a compartment containing supply means, acompartment containing dies and a capstan for drawing wire through saiddies, a compartment containing a take-up mechanism for the drawn wire,doors for each oi said compartments, electric power means for operatingsaid take-up mechanism, a circuit for supplying current to said powermeans, means for opening and closing said circuit, said last mentionedmeans being so arranged that said circuit cannot be completely closeduntil all of said doors are closed, means responsive to a breakage ofsaid wire and to said wire becoming loose tor stopping said power means,and means responsive to the opening of one of said doors for stoppingsaid power means.

'1. In a wire drawing machine, a compartment containing supply means, acompartment coritaining dies and .a capstan for drawing wire throughsaid dies, a compartment containing a take-up mechanism ior'the drawnwire, doors for each of said compartments, electric power means' i'oroperating said take-up mechanism. a circuit for supplying current tosaid power means, and means for opening and closing said circuit, saidlast mentioned means being so arranged that said circuit cannot becompletely closed untiiallofsaiddoorsareclosed.

8. In apparatus of the character described the combination or means forworking strand material including a rotatable member over which a strandmeans for spooling thestrand 'delivered by the working means, controlmeans for automatically the spooling means when the spool becomes full,means supporting said rotatablmember so as to permit movement thereof ofits axis for slackening said strand, actuating means for moving saidsupporting means, and-means associated withv said control means forcontrolling said actuating means whereby the latter isautomatically'operated to slacken said strand upon the stopping 'of saidspool.l 4

9. Inapparatus of thecharacter described the combination of means for-working a strand of material including an idler sheavev over whichsaidvstrand passes, eccentric mounting means for said sheave,y meansi'or spooling the strand delivered by said working actuating means 'rfor rotating said eccentric mounting mean's to `thereby slacken saidstrand, and means responsive to the operation oi' said spooling meansfor` controlling the supply of motive power to said actuating means.

10. In apparatus of the characterdescribed the combination of a casing,means in said casing for working a strand of material including arotatable member over which said strand passes, winding means for takingup the strand delivered by said working means, a control for saidwinding means, a shaft supported by said casing and having an eccentricspindle portion upon which said rotatable memberis mounted, means forautomatically rotating said shaft to thereby slacken said strand uponthe stopping oi the winding means and control means actuated upon thestopping of said winding means for rendering the shaft rotating meanseffective.

11. In apparatus of the character described the combination of means forworking a strand of material, means associated with said working meansfor slackening said strand, winding means for taking up the stranddelivered by said working means, and means under the control oi saidwinding means iorI stopping said winding means andv actuating saidslackening means substantially simultaneously with the stopping of thewinding means. i Y

12. In apparatus of the character described the combination of means forworking a strand of material, winding means for taking up the stranddelivered by said working means, means under the control of said windingmeans for stopping said winding means, means for slackening said strand,

' and control means responsive to the stopping of said winding means forrendering said slackening means eiective. A

13. In apparatus of the character described the combination oi means forworking a strand of material, winding means for taking up the stranddelivered by said working means, and means responsive to the stopping ofsaid winding means for slackening said strand substantiallysimultaneously with the stopping of said winding means.'

14. In apparatus of the character described the combination of means forworking a strand of mal terial including a rotatable member over whichsaid strand passes, movable mounting means for said rotatable member.-means for spooling the strand delivered by said working means, actuatingmeans for moving said mounting means to thereby slacken said strand, andmeans under the control of said spooling means for rendering saidactuating means eiIective.

15. In apparatus of the character described the combination oi means forworking a strand o! material including a rotatable drum and a rotatableidler sheave over which said strand passes, mounting means for saidrotatable sheave, said mounting means being movable to vary the distancebetween the axis of said sheave and the axis of said drum, means i'orspooling the strand deliv- 60 ered by said working means, actuatingmeans for moving said mounting means to decrease said distance tothereby slacken said strand, control means for said actuating meansincluding an electro-magnetic device, and means under the control ofsaid spooling means ior de-energizing said device substantiallysimultaneously with the stopping of said spooling means.

16. In apparatus of the character described the combination of meansi'or working a strand of 70 material including a rotatable drum and anidler sheave over which the strand passes, a spindle upon which saidsheave is rotatable, movable mounting means for said spindle whereby thespacing of the axis of said spindle from the axis driving means forrendering said actuating means effective for slackening said strand.

17. In apparatus of the character described the combination of means forworking a strand of material including a rotatable drum and an idlersheave over which the strand passes, a spindle upon which said. sheaveis rotatable, movable mounting means for said spindle whereby thespacing of the axis of said spindle from the axis of said drum may bevaried to thereby slacken said strand, a rotatable spool for winding thestrand delivered by the working means, driving means for rotating saidspool, actuatingmeans for said movable spindle mounting means includinga fluid pressure responsive device operatively connected to saidmounting means, avalve for controlling the supply of motive uid to saidpressure responsive device, actuating means for said valve including anelectro-magnetic device, and speed responsive switch means forcontrolling the energization of said electro-magneticgdevice wherebysaid fluid pressure responsive device isv rendered operative forslackeningy said strand upon the stopping of said driving means.

18i In apparatus of the haracter described, the combination of means forworking a strand-of material, Winding means for taking up the stranddelivered by said working means, and means for -slackening the strandsubstantially simultaneously with the stopping of saidwinding means,said slackening means including an uelectromagnetic device and meansresponsiveto the stopping of said winding means for deenergizing saiddevice substantially simultaneously with the stopping o said windingmeans.

19. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of meansfor working a strand of material including a rotatable drum and an idlersheave over which said strand passes, means for taking up the stranddelivered by said working means. and means responsive to the stopping offor withdrawing said holding means.

said winding means for slackening the strand substantiallysimultaneously with the stopping of said winding means, lsaid slackeningmeans "including an eccentrically mounted spindle supporting said idlersheave and uid pressure re- 5 sponsive means for rotating said spindle.

20. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of meansfor working a strand of material including a rotatable drum and an idlersheave over which said strand passes, means for 10 taking up the stranddelivered by said working means, means responsive tothe stopping of saidwinding means for slackening the strand substantially simultaneouslywith the stopping of said winding means, said slackening means including15 an eccentrically mounted spindle supporting said idler sheave, fluidpressure responsive means for rotating said spindle, valve means forcontrolling said iiuid pressure responsive means, and electromagneticmeans for controlling said valve means. 20

21. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of arotatable spool carrier,`driving means for rotating said carrier forwinding material upon a spool, holding means mounted for movementrelative to said spool, means under the 25 control of the material beingwound for pressing said holding means against the wound material, andmeans rendered 'effective substantially simultaneously with the stoppingof the spool carrier 22. In apparatus of the character described, thecombination of a rotatable spool carrier, driving means for rotating"said carrier for winding "material upon a spool, holding means mountedforl movement relative to said spool, spring means normally biasing saidholding means away from said spool, fluid pressure responsive means forpressing said holding means against the wound material, valvemeans underthe control of the material being wound for supplying fluid pressure ltosaid fluid pressure responsive means andresponsive to the stopping ofthe spool carrier for,

-interrupting the supply of fluid pressure to said fluid pressureresponsive means and thereby ren- 45 dering said spring means effectivefor withdrawing said holding means.

' EINER W. LARSEN.

